Bill and Charlie
are two compulsive gamblers with nothing in common except their
incredibly bad luck. But after a chance meeting in an L.A. card
parlor, these two losers find that together, they make an unbeatable
team. Embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime winning streak, Bill and
Charlie bet their way from the tacky racetracks and bars to the plush
casino tables of Reno, where they end up staking their good fortune on
a “friendly” little game of poker with legendary world champion
Amarillo Slim.
CRITIQUE
Bill (George Segal)
and Charlie (Elliot Gould) meet in a Los Angeles poker parlor. Charlie
wins and Bill loses, and a bit of a skirmish breaks out between
Charlie and the sore loser. We will see him again later. Charlie and
Bill meet up again later at a bar. They have never met before, and
they really know nothing about each other. The only thing that matters
is that they are both compulsive gamblers, and the world of gambling
is the only world that really matters to them. The opening scene in
this film – in the poker hall – perfectly sets up the mood, the
characters, the atmosphere of the entire piece. Director Robert
Altman’s wandering camera leads up past Charlie, past Bill, and around
the denizens of this world. We can practically smell the cloud of
cigarette smoke that hangs over every table.
Bill and Charlie
are the heroes of California Split, if such a term can be
applied. The performances by Elliot Gould and George Segal are
perfect; there is a naturalism here that makes the whole thing feel so
off the cuff, improvised. The interplay between the two of them is
endlessly fun to watch. Both actors are very engaging, and they do
well with the hilarious script by Joseph Walsh. This film came on the
heels of MASH, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Long Goodbye,
and was made a year before Nashville,
but California Split seems not to be mentioned as often. The
film could most closely be compared to MASH, as both films are
funny, cynical, gritty, and feature two frazzled main characters.
Despite the similarities, California Split is the better film.
Altman was obviously trying the same thing, but here he nails it,
perfects every theme he hits on.
The acting in the
film is terrific, but the direction is masterful. There are more audio
and visual layers in this film than there are in any ten films. The
way Altman weaves in and out of comedy and tragedy is assured, and we
follow along willingly. We do not have to know anything about gambling
to enjoy this film, and in the end we know something that we did not
know before.
California Split
has an almost documentary feel to it, both in the improvisational way
the actors perform, and in the style in which the film is shot. We are
there with Bill and Charlie, from top to bottom, in every bar and
track, at every mugging. We feel for these guys, and Altman creates a
palpable world for them to exist within. The script is solid, and the
supporting roles are fully realized.
THE
VIDEO
California Split
is presented in the original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The
transfer is pristine, and the dingy feel of the movie’s gambling halls
is perfectly represented. The color levels are perfect, and the
overall picture is sharp.
THE
AUDIO
This DVD is
presented in English Dolby 3.0. The presentation is crisp, with the
ambient feel of the poker rooms and the quiet moments in the film
coming through flawlessly. This film does not have a complicated
soundtrack, but what is here is very well done.
THE
EXTRAS
Director and Cast
Commentary:
Altman and the actors talk about how the film came to be, where they
filmed, and how the characters were fleshed out.
This is the only
feature. It would be nice if there were at least a theatrical trailer
here, especially considering that there are previews for other movies
on this disc.
FINAL THOUGHTS
California Split
is an amazing work that is rarely talked about. At long last on DVD,
this film is ripe for rediscovery. The writing and performances are
spot on perfect, and the direction is brilliantly assured. This film
is perfect for anyone, particularly film students and fans of Robert
Altman.
